Pups on pillows . . .

We love having friends to stay chez nous and one of the necessary prerequisites for any visitors is "Must love dogs" or at the very least, tolerate them.

Mostly friends are coming to visit with the hubby & I, and the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world are content with saying hello and being on the receiving end of the odd cuddle or tug-of-war with the nearest toy.  But when our two young Dutch friends come to stay, it's not about me or the Hubby, it's ALL about Ben & Jerry.

It works out well for us grown-up peeps too . . . the boys retreat to the puzzle cave, popping out occasionally for refreshments, whilst we girls chat & catch up & cook & chat some more, and maybe enjoy a little crafting.  All this while the young 'uns and the pups play, and play, and play some more, and at the end of the visit when it's time to leave, there are some very fond goodbyes and nearly always tears.  

Again, nothing to do with us, and everything to do with leaving the pups behind.

SO,  I had a little idea . . .  I made some pillows.  

The result involved two live canine models and a whole lot of smelly treats.  

And this time when we had to say farewell, they got to take a little momento home - a Ben & Jerry cushion each.

 I think they like their pillows . . .

All smiles, no tears . . . job done  : - )

'til next time,

xoxo

tulips and daisies . . .

My dressmaking mojo disappeared for a little while back there, but when the sun shines - as it has been here for the past few days - thoughts can't but help turn to Spring, and one of my favourite things about the new season is tulips.  Well actually tulips, and daffies, and daisies, and sunshine, and blue sky, and that feeling of everything waking up, and being warmer.

Anyway, I digress . . .  back to dressmaking, and The Tulip Skirt to be precise.

I'm really quite over Winter already, although I do believe it may be around a little longer, so now is as good a time as any to make a start to my Spring/Summer wardrobe - don't you think?

This pretty daisy fabric has been in my stash for a wee while now, just waiting for the right pattern.  I considered a few, and then I spotted the lovely Tulip Skirt by Sew Over It - and voila . . . in an instant it was purchased, downloaded and printed.   At this point I should mention that I'm not really a big fan of PDF patterns, I much prefer printed full-size ones.  It's all that printing and cutting and taping together, then cutting out that seems like so much of a faff - but hey-ho, needs must sometimes. And of course, at face-value it's the less expensive option too.

can you spot the dots of the pocket fabric ?

It's such a lovely pattern, and really quick and easy to make (once you're over the whole PDF thing, of course).  The instructions are well laid out, although there were a couple of points that I had to read over a few times before I got what was meant to be done. Maybe that's just me ; - )

But either way, it comes in two different lengths - I'm tall so I opted for the longer one which sits just above my knees - and has handy side pockets too, for which I used a contrasting dotty fabric, just because I had it, and it matched nicely.

So if you're planning some Spring makes too, it's a fun pattern to sew and I'm already rummaging through my fabric stash again with the intention of making another one sometime very soon.

'til next time,

xoxo

Christmas in the making . . .

Less than a week to go before the big day, and I'm happy to say that this year I've managed to finish my Christmas makes ahead of schedule.   Can I get a woo-hoo ?

I should confess though that I did rather curtail the List a wee bit - for once realising that with everything else going on right now, I just wasn't going to be able to make it all. 

You know that thing where you pin a whole lot of fab ideas on Pinterest, then time runs out and you think, oh well, maybe next year . . . ?

Anyways . . . meet Ed the Elf . .  he's my favourite Christmas creation.  Isn't he just the sweetest elf you ever did see?

  The (free) pattern is from lovely Julie at Heart & Sew, and he's pretty much made from my yarn stash. He's a chubby little thing (too many mince pies, methinks) and despite that mischief & mayhem seem to follow in his wake, I'll miss him when he flies north to his forever home.  But I'm sure he'll be just as well-loved and treasured there too.

 I hope he writes, or calls occasionally . . .

My other favourite make was a whole tribe of little snowmen . . .

I just loved this idea from the Tilda Christmas book and had so much fun making each of them unique in their own little way.

Most of them have been gifted to lovely friends, but these two have stayed behind to cheer up the diningroom for our Christmas dinner  : - )

 

So that's all my handmade gifts and makes ticked off, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing, crafty time now.

How's everyone else's Christmas making coming along ? Are you all done too ?

'til next time,

xoxo

If the shoe fits . . .

Thanks so much, lovely peeps for all your kind & encouraging comments about our blossoming garden.  And a big welcome to my new followers too - thanks for popping in to say hello : - )

The Hubby & I spent the weekend in London and now I'm packing my bag again and heading north across Hadrian's Wall for a few days in Scotland, but before I fly off I thought I'd tell you about a fab little workshop I did the other evening . . .

My friend Heather (yes, she of gardening guru fame) & I decided we needed to add "Making Espadrilles" to our crafty endeavours, so off we toddled to Guthrie & Ghani in Moseley.

We were such busy elves that I somehow only took three little pics, but we had great fun cutting & stitching & nattering away, and by the end of the evening we'd almost managed to produce one shoe each ; - )

That's Heather's on the left and mine on the right, and a sad lack of any significant crafty time since then means that I've yet to finish my other shoe.  So they are sitting patiently on top of the WIP basket, hoping to be a complete pair soon.

It was a really fun workshop, and the espadrilles don't require much fabric at all - just two fat quarters, so I definitely see another pair on the horizon in the not too distant future.  But I really must finish this pair first.   They're just perfect for summer, don't you think ?

Wishing you a happy week,

'til next time,

xoxo

ps. if you fancy a little trip to beautiful Stratford upon Avon to make your own lovely pair of bespoke espadrilles, there's a couple of workshops coming up at Sew Me Something.  Ooh, and there's 20% off in the Summer Workshop Sale too  : - )

Day or Night ?

Oops, it's been a little while . . .

We've got my lovely SIL visiting for a few weeks, so between the usual weekly routine things and running around doing all sorts of fun touristy stuff, there hasn't been much time for blogging, or much crafting either, for that matter.  So please do forgive the sporadic posts that will ensue over the next couple of weeks, and I'll pop in whenever I can.   

But I do have a little sewing project to share today . . .

I first came across this lovely pattern on Love, Lucie's blog - it's the Day-to-Night Drape Top from Maria Denmark.   Lucie has a whole array of them, and I love this simple yet pretty style, so I just had to get the pattern and give it a go.  It's a download & print pattern which I normally tend to shy away from as to be honest, I find the whole process of printing and matching and taping together, a little tedious mostly - but as this pattern only has two pieces, it's a doddle to do.

It's a really easy-peasy top to make, and a perfect addition to my summer wardrobe.  It really does what it says on the tin, and will do for daytime casual or nighttime elegance, depending on your fabric choice & accessories.  And best of all, it took less than a meter of fabric - so it's an inexpensive make too.

So, thanks Lucie - I'm sure I'll be making lots more of these too  : - )

And if you haven't yet discovered  Lucie's lovely blog , do pop over to say hello and have a little peek at all her lovely makes. 

Hope it's been a lovely weekend wherever you are,

'til next time,

take care of you

xoxo

ps. whilst I'm slacking a bit on the blog side of things, I am at least Instagramming, so if you'd like to follow along please do.  You'll find me @ gilly_makes - or click on the link in the right hand column of this page.

Meet Cordelia . . .

Hello, and happy Friday to you . . .

It seems to me like the year is speeding by and I'm constantly playing catch-up as one busy week rolls into the next.   But I'm trying to steadily work my way through my WIP list and being very good about not starting anything new . . . at least until the current list is reduced to an acceptable (for me) level.

So first up for "show & tell" this week:  meet Cordelia.   

Actually, its proper name is The Cordelia Dress and it's the latest lovely pattern from Sew Me Something - however, despite having now made three,  none of them are in fact a dress  ; - )

guard dog . . .

  I do so love dresses, but have a fair abundance of them in my wardrobe already and what I really need for the upcoming Summer, is tops so I made these three at tunic length.  The pattern is quite versatile so really you can adjust the length to suit you . . . from tunic to maxi and everything in between - the choice is yours.

I made the two sleeveless tops a little while ago (regular readers may remember a few sneak peeks) , but just finished the other one this week.  The pattern includes three different sleeve options (the other being a longer sleeved version - perfect for the cooler seasons), all of which are very simple to do. 

 I love the clever twist at the front, and I must just point out that they look lovelier on person than on the hanger, but I'm home alone and decidedly rubbish at selfies, so hang they must.

lazy dog . . .

It's a long weekend here, so I'm hoping to get some more projects ticked off my List  - what are your weekend plans ?  Anything exciting ?

'til next time,

be happy

xoxo

ps.  And a big welcome to my new followers too - thanks for popping by, it's lovely to see you. 

Caution: Work(s) in Progress

Every creative person I know,  has a constant myriad of works in progress.  Some more than others and some who very diligently finish one or two before they start another.  

Oh how I wish to be the latter.  But alas, it appears I am not.

And so it is, that today I find myself in my little craft room feeling just a wee tad daunted (overwhelmed, perhaps . . . but that seems too dramatic a word to use in this circumstance) by all the projects I currently have on the go . . .

Firstly there's the Maria Denmark "Day-to-Night Drape Top" that I've cut out and started sewing, and the new "Cordelia Dress" from Sew Me Something that has been cut out, but not even had it's markings marked or pins removed yet  . . .

. . . and another knit top that has as yet only made it to the "take the fabric out of the wardrobe and place the pattern on top of it" stage.

Next in line is the quilt that I made for the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world.  Their old one is, after 5 years of faithful service, looking decidedly bedraggled so it's time for a new one.  All I have to do is the binding.  It really won't take long . . .  once I actually get around to it.

So whilst we're talking quilts . . .  I should mention the new one I'm making for the guest room, which I started several months ago and have made very little progress on since.  Guests have come and gone, and been none the wiser - but I really would like to get stuck in and get it finished soon.

Oh, and I'm also in the process of making a quilt for a little girl that we hope will be joining our clan sometime soon.  But no pics of that, just in case her mama-to-be is reading this - I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Then there's the little old chair that a friend gifted to me, that has been all painted and spruced up, and waiting patiently for its new seat cover.  Another project that really won't take long at all - I've just got to find the time to do it.

Perhaps most urgent is the the making of my costume for the London Moon Walk  that I'm doing at the end of next week.  My lovely sis & I will be walking around London, through the night, in our bras to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer charities.  The theme for this year is "Saturday Night at the Movies" - can you guess who I'm going as ?  Not terribly original, but a simple outfit to make.  We're on track with our training, but I really need to get that mousey outfit made ASAP.

And as if I don't already have enough on the go, the Postie delivered this today . . .

Inspired by the lovelies, Jo & Daisy, I really want to give this a try too.  It looks fun, don't you think ?

So, there you have it . . . my extensive but by no means complete list of WIPs - let's not even get started on the knitty & crochet projects that are currently on the go or waiting patiently in line  ; - )

Right, so what I really need now is a team of little elves to take over all the housework and errands and general daily activities & duties, so that I can retreat to my little craft space and create to my heart's content.

Sigh . . .
   if only . . . 

'til next time,

xoxo

ps. if anyone would like to sponsor me for the MoonWalk, here's the link to our fundraising page.  Every little penny counts and would be most appreciated.

pps.  it's a miserable dull day today, so please forgive the equally miserable quality of the pics.  My little craft space is also the darkest room in the house.

sewing & mezzes . . .

Question: 

What trumps a crafternoon with lovely friends, copious cuppas and yummy cake ?

Answer: 

 An evening spent sewing with those same lovely friends, a tipple or two (it improves the sewing apparently . . . so I'm told) and a delicious array of mezzes.

So, we annexed the lovely Sew Me Something studio (thanks Jules), 

ordered nibbles from El Greco - the oh-so-fab Greek eatery next door,  

and had a merry time sewing & nattering away to our hearts' content.

Quite a lovely way to spend an evening, don't you think ?

'til next time,

xoxo

Back to the making . . .

So it seems I'm not alone in my lack of gardening aptitude.
Thanks for all your lovely encouraging and supportive comments on my last post,  and I think I shall just continue to attempt to keep the weeds at bay and resign myself to the fact that whilst our garden will never be perfect, it will always be perfect for us. 

Right, now let's get back to the making shall we ?

I've always wanted to be able to make trousers, but somehow had convinced myself that my sewing abilities weren't quite up to that standard.   So the only "bottoms" I'd managed to make were the easy-peasy PJs  (and so much fun were they, that I made 3 pairs one after the other).

Then along came the Great British Sewing Bee, and the task in week one was to make a pair of simple cotton cropped Capri pants - a style I love and wear a lot in the warmer seasons.

After the show, came the GBSB book, complete with the full-size pattern.

 Then very shortly thereafter that,  my talented-sewing-friend-and-fellow-blogger Jo from Three Stories High posted all about her foray into sewing these trousers. 

So these three things collaborated to encourage, and before I knew it, I'd traced off the pattern, raided my fabric stash, threaded my machine and started sewing.

And I have to say, I'm pretty chuffed. 
They're light & comfy & fit just perfectly.

Thus it came to be that my self-perceived lack of ability dissipated . . . just like that.  There'll be no stopping me now.

So, I'll leave you with this:   

Don't ever doubt your ability, just give it a go.  Chances are you can.

Ooh, and I also made a top . . . 

. . . but more about that next time.

'til then,

be happy & be brave

xoxo

Simple Summer Sewing . . .

Thank you lovely peeps,  for your kind get-well wishes and sweet comments, as always, and I really do hope to catch up with all your bloggy news soon too.

  I'm back at full strength again and had a most creative & productive weekend which started on Friday with a happy sewing day spent in the company of my delightful friend Sarah.

Lots of nattering, yummy food, and some sewing - just a perfect way to spend a day.

We both made the same simple summery Retro Shift dress from Christine Haynes' book

 "chic & simple Sewing" which comes complete with full-sized paper patterns - a good thing indeed as I'm really not a big fan of printing and piecing PDF patterns.  The instructions were not overly clear at times, but between us we worked it out.  And there are a few other lovely projects in the book that I like the look of too. We picked up our copies at The Works for £8.95 so it was really good value, considering it contains 20 project patterns.

. . . lunch was ooh-sew-delicious too . . .

Despite some sunshiney days, it's still a tad chilly here so it may be a little while before I get to wear my new dress -  but I'm ever hopeful that we'll have a hot summer and I'll get to wear it lots.

The fabric is from Sew Me Something (of course . . .) and it's from the pretty Petal & Plume range by AGF.  I couldn't resist it - it's just sew ME  : - )

And then I made a top too -  it's a pressie for my lovely sis, so I can't show you that quite yet.

Oh, and I finished my crocheted cushion too  ( I did say, it was a productive weekend . . .) so stay tuned and as soon as I've taken some pics, I promise to show & tell.

'til next time,

xoxo

Oh, and ps.  Is anyone else planning a visit to Hobbycrafts & Sewing for Pleasure at the NEC in Birmingham this week ? 

I've been . . .

. . . A little under the weather :  

knocked sideways for a couple of weeks by the lurgy that seems to be going around at the moment, so really wasn't feeling up to much.  As a result, I most annoyingly indeed,  missed out on the little sojourn in London at the Knitting & Stitching Show. 

 Isn't that just so infuriating when plans you've made go awry all because of a horrible little germ-bug?

And look who popped in at the Sew Me Something stand to say hello to Jules & Claire,

  none other than some of our favourite contestants from this year's The Great British Sewing Bee.

Can't wait for the final this Thursday evening - so who would you like to win ?

. . . Doing a spot of knitting :

Loving being a part of the current Tangled Yarn KAL, knitting the Orza by Maison de Rililie.  It's such a lovely, friendly and encouraging bunch of knitty peeps that I'm knitting along with, but oh-my-word this pattern requires lots of concentration.  Something I couldn't muster much of whilst feeling poorly, but I'm hopeful of catching up a bit soon.  The pattern is just sooo clever, and an amazing design so I can't wait to see the end result.

. . . Hooking a bit of crochet :

Almost finished the Pick 'n Mix cushion cover - just the rest of the border and a pretty edging to do still.  

. . . And enjoying some Saturday sewing:

I started to feel a little brighter at the weekend (thank you lovely meds)  and  couldn't wait to get stuck into trying out the latest almost-hot-off-the-press Sew Me Something pattern that Jules has designed.

I can't show you the end result or tell you much about it yet, except to say that I  L.O.V.E  it , it's called Cordelia, and it will be launching sometime this Spring.  Woohoo... watch this space . . .

It's such a clever little pattern and I think it may just become
 my pattern du saison for S/S '15

 (sorry Kate)

 ;-)

Hope all's well in your little corner of the world, I'll try and catch up with you soon.

'til next time,

xoxo

The long & the short of it . . .

As you may or may not know, I'm an avid fan of The Kate Dress by Sew Me Something.  I've made this same pattern in a variety of fabrics, and worn them year round - and so it was a no-brainer that I chose Kate for last year's OWOP* Challenge too.  (Have a wee peek here if you missed that post. )

But as I'm now waiting ever so impatiently for Jules to put the finishing touches to a new SMS  pattern  (coming this Spring  -  yay,  can't wait  . . . I got to try on the sample and I LOVE it), 

I thought I'd make another Kate . . . or two. . .

The long . . .

 The longer version falls just above my knees and will be lovely with leggings or tights in winter, or suntanned pins in summer, but I thought it would be fun to make a much shorter version as a pretty white top for summer too.   And I'd been looking for an excuse to use this pretty lace-edged bias binding . . .

. . . and the short.

It's a bizarre weather day here - one moment the sun's out and the next, it's bucketing rain so please forgive the poor lighting in the pics.

Oh, and on a slight tangent:  is anyone else going to the Spring Knitting & Stitching Show at Olympia in London next week ?

'til next time,

xoxo

*One Week, One Pattern - hosted by Handmade Jane.

Time for today . . .

Today's plans postponed so some unexpected free time this morning.  What's a gal to do ?

Play with the happy mail that just arrived and do some swatching in preparation for the start of the Orza Coast Tangled Yarn KAL next week ?

Or maybe sew a new bed for the two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world ?

Or snuggle up on the sofa with the above-mentioned pups and work on my current hooky project ?

Or I could just continue with The Great Craft Room Tidy Up ?

OR . . .

. . . if I step swiftly away from the PC and just get stuck in, perhaps I could manage 

ALL OF THE ABOVE.

What do you think ?  

Here I go . . . wish me luck . . .  ; - )

Oh, and just in case you're wondering . . .

 Yes, I've finished my pretty poncho and am delightedly chuffed with it.

Happy Thursday, lovelies.

'til next time,

xoxo